By Ed Piper
Cathedral Catholic coach Will Cunningham's philosophy is, "You need to do the common things uncommonly well."
"The 'common things' are the common things of basketball," said the 11th-year Dons coach: "boxing out, passing and catching the ball, jump stops and pivots.
"So, if you can do those things well, the rest will take care of themselves."
The Dons, who again this year will list only one senior--A.J. Maisano, a returning 6-foot guard--strike out into the "big trees" early in the schedule: In the second week of December, they play in the prestigious Father Barry Classic at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, where they will open against Archbishop Mitty of the Bay Area in the first round.
Then, a week later, Cunningham's crew will travel to Orange County to play Mater Dei of Santa Ana. That contest lands on the schedule on Dec. 22.
"Hopefully, (those challenges) will get us ready for a great run in the playoffs (after the Western League season)," said Cunningham. "It's just a barometer to see where you are, and they're both (Mitty and Mater Dei) known to be good programs."
In practice on a weekday afternoon after WASC accreditation meetings for the staff at the private school, Cunningham and an assistant were leading the Don players in defensive block-out drills after a shot goes up. Players, several of intermediate and good size, were tutored in immediately turning in a swing technique to make contact with the offensive opponent, then continuing to move the feet while keeping the body in front of the opposing player.
"If you're matched up with someone who's too hard to handle, do this," Cunningham showed them in the curtained Cathedral gym, with a Don-red divider hanging from the ceiling at midcourt to allow the girls varsity to hold practice on the other end of the main court at the same time.
The coach, still in decent shape, crouched, with palms facing each other and placed near the chest of the opponent, as the defender now faced his man and even pushed his hands against him to keep him from the ball, if need be.
"You see, if we stay between our man and the ball, it doesn't matter if we don't see the ball and it comes off the rim and hits us on the back," Cunningham told his charges. "Then at least our man doesn't get to the ball. That's the whole point. Somebody on our team is going to get it."
Pairs rotated several times on each drill, first using basic block-out technique with their back to the offensive player, eyes toward the basket. Then they alternated with partners in the "too-hard-to-handle" face-on technique. Players grinned at various times as the drills went on, at regular speed but not nearly game speed. That intensity will come with the first whistle during next week's opening games.
Q: What is a key word or emphasis in your program?
A: Just be hungry.
Q: Elaborate.
A: That's just (going to be) reflected in our attitude and in our play and in our style.
Q: What is a key insight you have from growing up, from being a player yourself, or from your coaching, that you implement in your coaching?
A: Treat people the way you want to be treated.
You're a quote-unquote "varsity player". People make you out to be more than you are. Be humble. Treat people with respect.
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